Russellville’s mayor broke a split vote Thursday to approve the purchase of property for the future construction of a new central fire station.

Prior to the City Council’s meeting on Thursday, the Finance Committee met and voted to recommend the council approve the purchase of approximately half a city block just north of the 500 Building on West Main Street for $350,000.

The property has been identified as an ideal location for the construction of a new Central Fire Station.

The Fire Department set aside $100,000 earlier this year for the future purchase of a ladder truck, but will instead use those funds to put toward the purchase of this property. The remaining $250,000 will come from the city’s surplus funds.

During the City Council meeting, Alderman Mark Tripp expressed concern that the funds for the purchase of the property were not being taken from the 1-cent sales tax proceeds, of which $6.5 million was set aside for construction of a fire station.

“The fiscal responsibility of this council is to spend within its means, and we don’t even know what the cost of the fire station is going to be yet,” he said.

Mayor Bill Eaton noted the $6.5 million was set aside for construction only of a new central fire station and was not intended to include the purchase of land.

When the votes were cast on the motion, four aldermen — Horton, Spence Roberts, Martin Irwin and Seth Irwin — voted in favor of purchasing the property. Three aldermen — Tripp, Richard Harris and Garland Steuber — voted against the motion, and Alderwoman Freddie Harris was not present Thursday.

Eaton cast the fifth and deciding vote in favor of the motion.

Also on Thursday, aldermen heard the first reading of two ordinances, one to amend the zoning code pertaining to recreational vehicles and another regarding future city projects.

The city projects ordinance, sponsored by Martin Irwin, would require any and all projects within the city of Russellville involving the use of public funds be approved by a majority of the council before moving beyond the planning stage.

In other business, the council approved:

• The appointment of Maj. Gen. William Harmon to the City Corp. Board of Directors;

• The appointment of Kathy Keenan Price and Greg Barborek to the Historic District Commission;

• An amendment to the Solid Waste Committee to remove the Waste Management representative;

• Rezoning property along Interstate 40 between mile markers 83 and 84 from R-1 to C-2 and issuing a special use permit to allow billboards on the property;

• Rezoning property from R-2 to M-1 to construct a sawmill and R-2 to C-2 for commercial use on South Arkansas Avenue between D & R Railroad and the Pilgrim’s Pride rendering plant; and

• An amendment to the ordinance pertaining to the maintenance and operation of Oakland Cemetery.